In a message dated 98-08-08 17:38:36 EDT, the_supergenius@hotmail.com writes:

<< Well, look at it this way; Ryouga's rivalry with Ranma comes from the 
 greatest traditions of feudal era duelling. When Ryouga fights Ranma to 
 the death, it's not supposed to be tragic or bitter, it's supposed to be 
 beautiful--two great martial artists going all out on one another. No 
 quarter, no holding back, just strength against strength. Now, what 
 would happen if either one of them killed the other? It really wouldn't 
 be Ranma 1/2 any more, would it? Bringing it back to Kunou, what would 
 happen if he REALLY hit Akane? You get my point. >>

                Takahashi is doing more than parodying the ancient martial
arts customs, she is bitterly satirzing them. Ranma is a martial arts comedy
because Takahashi wants to make a protest aganist the ancient martial arts
customs of honour and chilvary that are still part of modern Japanese society.
She thinks ideas like Sepuku, 
Bushido and Samurai codes, arranged marriges, and other ancient customs should
be stricken from modern Japanese culture and society. She is very feminist and
probably finds all these old ideas as silly and chuvanstic. That is why the
females are usually the most compatent people in her work.